Rather than promote homeschooling (which I am for) perhaps the Antiochian archdiocese should put forth a more concerted effort to establish Orthodox schools across this country. There are only a handful and there is no reason why we should shy away from this.

I don't think the Archdiocese is organizing this conference (I could be wrong). It sounds like it's one of the following: (a) an effort of the Village itself (which would make sense), (b) some members of the AOA in conjunction with the Village, or (c) an independent Orthodox group.

I don't think the Archdiocese is organizing this conference (I could be wrong). It sounds like it's one of the following: (a) an effort of the Village itself (which would make sense), (b) some members of the AOA in conjunction with the Village, or (c) an independent Orthodox group.

Rather than promote homeschooling (which I am for) perhaps the Antiochian archdiocese should put forth a more concerted effort to establish Orthodox schools across this country. There are only a handful and there is no reason why we should shy away from this.

Seeing as they have one in Johnstown PA (not all that far from Antiochian village) and it's struggling, I'd guess they might question viability. I hate to say it, but our schools will probably only get a boost when jurisdictional cooperation and/or unity becomes real.

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"Religion is a neurobiological illness and Orthodoxy is its cure." - Fr. John S. Romanides

Seeing as they have one in Johnstown PA (not all that far from Antiochian village) and it's struggling, I'd guess they might question viability. I hate to say it, but our schools will probably only get a boost when jurisdictional cooperation and/or unity becomes real.

You're probably right, but we need these for our children. There are many people in our parish who send their kids to private Catholic school but wish they could send them to an Orthodox school where they can also have the religious and prayer aspect alongside of their education.

Seeing as they have one in Johnstown PA (not all that far from Antiochian village) and it's struggling, I'd guess they might question viability. I hate to say it, but our schools will probably only get a boost when jurisdictional cooperation and/or unity becomes real.

You're probably right, but we need these for our children. There are many people in our parish who send their kids to private Catholic school but wish they could send them to an Orthodox school where they can also have the religious and prayer aspect alongside of their education.

I wonder why the one in Johnstown is struggling. Do you know?

Despite seemingly enough Orthodox in the area to support a school, low enrollment; use of teachers with no credentials...two biggies in my book (and perhaps related). Usual American Orthodox ethnic issues maybe, I hope not, but maybe.

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"Religion is a neurobiological illness and Orthodoxy is its cure." - Fr. John S. Romanides

They keep trying to start one here and they can't get enough enrollment.

An Orthodox co-op would be a better idea to me. I homeschool because I can't afford to send my kids to private school. And if I have to choose between homeschooling and having a few more kids, or having 1-2 kids and sending them to private school, I will homeschool.

Historically there are two reasons for the Antiochian Archdiocese to not invest fully into Orthodox Schools.

The first and probably foremost was Metropolitan Philip's own experience in sponsoring an Orthodox School in a parish when he was a young man. As part of an agreement between other local Orthodox Churches of differing jurisdictions, he raised money to build and built an orthodox school as on property his parish held. A Greek Orthodox Donor while it was being built wanted a Greek Orthodox School and not a pan-orthodox school and donated all funding for a Greek Orthodox School. The then Father Philip was left with a completed school but only Antiochian children to attend, he worked very hard over the next years to get the costs of the school paid off but the school failed because it was built with the intention of having Greek Orthodox children in it in order to meet expenses. Once burned like that he may be cautious to invest that type of money or burden upon a local parish again. The story of this is in his biography written by Father Peter Gilquist.

The second reason is that many converts from Roman Catholic and Protestant backgrounds were home schooling when they entered the Church. They were already active in local Christian home schooling groups. Seeking to make their home schooling more Orthodox, they established internet support groups with sharing of resources and curriculum's.One family in our parish started a great resource center that offers many supplies, books, etc to homeschoolers utilizing the classical education model so I know there is a good group of homeschoolers in the orthodox Church. In the Diocese of the Wichita and the Midwest, home schooling is a very popular idea. so it is little wonder that the internet Orthodox homeschooling groups have organized a retreat and the fact it is in Ligoner is based on its availability and willingness to allow other groups than the official jurisdictions utilize their conference and retreat facilities.

Many of us converts were, as mentioned, already homeschooling. A practice that has not caught on within historicaly ethnic based parishes. Here in the south eastern states and along much of the seaboard, one is very blessed indeed to find an Orthodox church at all! Let alone one of the person's chosen jurisdiction. The more ethnic the parish already is, then education is about (typically) blending into American culture at large as soon as possible. This idea has passed to the successive generations, and doing anything outside of that 'norm' is considered bizarre. Standing out even more than they do as Orthodox is a no no.Since I already stand out, I have no issues such as this. Kinda hard to hide seven children and one special needs child on top of that. My guess is that parishes are loathe to start a school that isn't just one jurisdictional cross section, with their cultural identity sewn in part and parcel. Greek schools much teach hellenic culture, modern Greek language, greek dance and so on. Obviously a Russian family isn't going to be terribly interested in that and the Greek families will be no less interested in learning Russian. Since none of them can separate their cultural identity, VOILA-we get no Orthodox schools. And even if we did, they would no doubt be in major metro areas where I for one do not choose to raise my children.so we homeschool and push and cajole folks into writing Orthodox curriculum, while we struggle to learn enough of the faith to participate!